Whatcom County is drawing interest from new manufacturing firms, could mean more jobs
Whatcom County is seeing an uptick in interest from manufacturers, and that may mean more jobs if some hurdles are tackled.
A recent presentation to Port of Bellingham Commissioners by the Regional Economic Partnership indicated several new companies are making plans to move or expand operations in Whatcom County. The Regional Economic Partnership is funded by the port along with the Bellingham and Whatcom County governments and has a variety of organization partners.
Don Goldberg, the Port of Bellingham’s director of economic development, said interest in this area has been strong lately.
Here are a few examples of interest in this area:
▪ 360 Modular Building Systems in Ferndale and will make prefab structures for commercial buildings, including apartments, hotels and condominiums.
Rob Dale, vice president of the company, said they are currently working to finish renovating the former Swarne Lumber facility at 5530 Nordic Place, between Interstate 5 and the Ferndale Haggen shopping center. The company plans to have between 50-75 employees at the facility by the end of the year, with the possibility of adding more workers in the coming years.
▪ No Meat, a vegan food manufacturer in Lynden is hoping to grow to 200-300 employees and be in a 200,000 square foot building in the next several years, Goldberg said during the presentation.
▪ Tidal Vision, which has already established a facility in Bellingham, is also poised for growth, Goldberg said. The company takes marine by-products to create other eco-friendly items, including water treatment.
Ben Cairns, a business development manager for the company, said they have been moving into a 50,000-square-foot space in the Irongate business park. They currently have 10 employees and hope to double that in the next year, he said.
▪ The partnership has also been working with existing companies like Silfab Solar to get state grants. Silfab, which is on Cornwall Avenue near the waterfront, makes solar panels and is making plans to expand, Goldberg said during the port commission presentation.
In an email Goldberg said that being between two growing metro areas makes Whatcom County an attractive option, particularly for companies that distribute to both the U.S. and Canadian markets.
Goldberg said this area has some challenges for new manufacturers. The biggest ones, the partnership has found, is affordable housing and daycare, particularly for companies that pay workers in the $15-25 an hour range. Other challenges include finding available buildings and infrastructure to support growth.
Currently, there is a shortage of manufacturing buildings, particularly for ones with more than 15,000 square feet, said Goldberg. There are sites that can be developed but lack roads and utilities.
If Whatcom does add manufacturing jobs, it will continue a decade-long trend. Whatcom added an estimated 3,100 jobs between October 2009 and October 2019, according to data from the Washington State Employment Security Department.
